Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is a neurological disorder that affects the sensory, motor and/or autonomic nerves, and is caused by abnormal function of these nerves due to various etiologies. These disorders can originate from numerous causes, such as diabetes, alcoholism, HIV, toxin exposure, metabolic abnormalities, vitamin deficiency, or adverse effects of certain drugs. However, after evaluations for the etiologies of these PNs are performed, 32-70% of all peripheral neuropathies remain idiopathic. With the development of autoimumme and genetic tests, these idiopathic peripheral neuropathies can often be diagnosed.

Symptoms of an autoimmune peripheral neuropathy may include weakness, cramping, decreased tendon reflexes, numbness, tingling, and pain affecting the arms and/or legs. Clinically, peripheral neuropathies are classified according to various characteristics: symmetric or asymmetric, proximal or distal, acute or chronic, slowly progressive or rapid onset, affecting one (mononeuropathy) or many nerves (polyneuropathy).2,14 Upon electrophysiological examination, assessment of a neuropathy can be further classified, depending on which part of the peripheral nervous system is affected, such as the axon or myelin sheath. Peripheral neuropathy can be demyelinating, axonal, or both, as determined by electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS).

Stem cell treatment is a novel treatment option for neuropathy. Unlike the currently available conventional treatments, our stem cell therapy is different in the way that we target to repair the nerve damage itself and recover functions. Stem cell treatment focuses on the root of the problem and not just the symptoms.

Cell death occurs when cells are injured. However, these dead cells are surrounded by damaged and healthy cells. Stem cells have the potential to stimulate the healing of these injured cells by the secretion of cytokines, such as nerve growth factor to promote the body’s self-repair mechanisms.